Longtime volunteers honored with Lions Club production

Thom CaseyMartha Holman, John Long and Norman Harrison look through Holmanâs Lions Community Theatre folder.

Time flies when you’re having fun. Norman Harrison and Martha Holman can attest to that.

On or off the stage, the duo has been involved with every show the Lions Community Theatre has presented since its 1971 launch.

Harrison and Holman, in particular, are going to be honored this year during the production of “On Golden Pond,” where the duo will play the lead roles.

Gathered in Martha Holman’s living room, the duo — plus director John Sanderson, longtime volunteer (and Martha’s husband) Carson “Spike” Holman and publicist John Long — shared stories from the past 40-plus years, speaking about how the New Bloomfield Lions Club, which produces the theatre’s productions, went from putting on variety and minstrel shows to establishing a large community event.

“Other Lions Clubs have fund-raisers or go on the streets,” Sanderson, 70, said. “The play is our big money maker.”

A money maker it is. From 1971 to 2010, plays took in a gross profit of $418,428, with a net of $238,549. The funds are used to help the Lions Club perform community service and other charitable activities.

That was the goal all along for Harrison. The theatre’s first play was “Send Me No Flowers” in 1971. The now 72-year-old remembered being a 33-year-old man who not only had the male lead, but was executive producer and had other behind the scenes duties.

“I also parked the cars,” Harrison said jokingly.

Martha Holman, 73, had a bit part in the play as a “lady of the evening. I only had four lines.”

Harrison and Martha first starred together in 1974’s “Mary, Mary.” Martha played the cynical Mary to Harrison’s sensible Bob.

Directing the play was Grace Swan, Harrison’s English teacher who asked him to star in “Send Me No Flowers” that first year. Harrison, like Sanderson, had been involved with the variety and minstrel shows, but refused to continue in that path.

“I said, ‘I don’t want to do another variety show, but I’ll help to do a play.’ Then, Grace Swan called me and asked. You don’t say no to your English teacher.”

Harrison also invited Martha Holman to come on board. After a few small parts, she finally got the female lead in “Mary, Mary.”

“We’ve been married six times,” Martha said about acting with Harrison.

“Is that including the time I didn’t talk?” Harrison asked, referencing “Once Upon A Mattress” (1979).

“Yes, I loved that time,” Martha said jokingly. “He didn’t say a word. He was mute.”

The two haven’t been leads together since 1993’s “Play On,” but over the past 40 years, they’ve had the leads together five times.

In 2009’s “White Christmas,” Spike Holman, who had long been behind the scenes, finally shared the spotlight with a bit part. He became involved as executive producer with “Arsenic & Old Lace” (1973).

“I was told, ‘It’s not a big job. We’ll help you out,’” he said, looking at Harrison.